From George and Ira Gershwin to Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, from Irving Berlin to John Kander and Fred Ebb or from Jerry Herman to Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, Jewish composers and entertainers have been an integral part of the Broadway and American pop lexicon for well over a century.
And then there’s Barbra Streisand, Carole King and even Elvis Presley – Elvis’ maternal great-great grandmother, Nancy Burdine, was Jewish. Her daughter gave birth to Doll Mansell who gave birth to Gladys Smith who gave birth to Elvis.
These and many more icons of the stage, screen and recording studio will be celebrated in the musical performance, To Life 5: Jewish Broadway to Hollywood! Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals.
The fifth incarnation of that production which pays homage to composers who contributed to Hollywood, Broadway and recorded music opens Friday, Jan. 17 and runs through Feb. 2 at the Willow Theatre in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park.
To Life 1 through To Life 4 have all frequently played to sold-out houses.
Hy Juter of the Jupiter Theatre Company developed this audience-pleasing show. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 performances were written by Shari Upbin, who also directed and hosted the ’23 and ’24 entries. She will reprise her director and mistress of ceremonies roles in this year’s tribute.
Upbin has produced and directed more than 50 shows in New York and around the country and was one of the original producers of the hit Off-Broadway, Grammy-nominated show, One Mo’ Time.
Her Florida directing credits include Women’s Minyan, Broadway Live! and Hollywood Live! and Confessions of a Jewish Shiksa…Dancing on Hitler’s Grave at the Kravis Center, Dames In Divaland, Clemenza and Tessio are Dead at Empire Stage and Broadway Live at the Pompano Beach Cultural Arts Center.
In his native South Africa, Juter was president of the nation’s largest theatrical booking and public relations company handling tours for Frankie Lane, Trini Lopez, Engelbert Humperdinck, Buddy Greco and Sarah Churchill, among others. In England and Europe, he worked with Peter Sellers, Sophia Loren, Eva Bartok and John Mills. He produced four movies and has crafted many concerts and stage musicals.
The To Life series began in 2019. Scott Siegel, a prolific creator of concerts and nightclub performances, wrote that edition and the 2020 show.
COVID-19 forced cancellation of productions in 2021 and 2022. Shows resumed in 2023.
This all-new fifth chapter will once again feature amusing anecdotes and fascinating facts about some of America’s most well-known, lauded, and popular Jewish composers and entertainers who created and performed in such iconic productions as Mame, Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof and Milk and Honey, among others.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring another chapter of To Life to the stage!” Upbin said with pride. “This season, we have added stories of The Yiddish Theatre to songs that came from the famous New York musical landmark, the Brill Building, which includes Carole King and songs by Lieber and Stoller, ‘Hound Dog,’ ‘Chapel of Love,’ along with favorites by Gershwin, Berlin, Sheldon Harnick and Sondheim.”
“This one is going to be a dynamic crowd pleaser,” she emphasized.
The production will feature four top-tier South Florida entertainers — Jinon Deeb, Bruno Faria, Shelley Keelor and Shane Tanner. Noted pianist/composer Elliot Weiss will serve as musical director. Nicole Roach is stage manager.
To Life 5 is being presented in the Willow Theatre, 300 South Military Trail in Boca’s Sugar Sand Park. Tickets are $46; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $41. Tickets are available online at https://www.myboca.us/2647/To-Life-5 or by phone at 561-347-3948.
Performance days and times are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
